Stuck in a Rut - Pt 4

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:14-26 ESV).

The third step in the process is to execute, or simply do the plan. That’s often a lot easier said than accomplished. Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers once said: “Plan your work and work your plan.” God likes it when you plan your work and work your plan. Proverbs 21:5 in the New Living Translation says: “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Our reading today encourages us to both believe and behave. We should be very conscious of our need to have faith and live our faith. I like this illustration of people carrying their plan. It is a reminder of how important it is to execute our plan. Here are four steps that will help:  First, take small steps. Tell yourself you only have to do 5 minutes of work on it. That small amount of work is less intimidating.  Second, just start. Once you get going, it’s much easier to keep going. So tell yourself that all you have to do is start. It gets easier after that point.  Third, reward yourself. Whatever might be a “reward” plan that for your successful behavior.  Fourth, rekindle passion for the task. Get rid of the dread and redirect it to excitement about your action. Get started today!